Life preserver



J. CATARAU LIFE PRESERVER Aug. 8, 1933.

Filed Dec. 12 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet l II II I! INVENTOR Aug 8, 1933- Q JCATARAU I 1,921,658

LIFE PRESERVE-R Filed Dec. 12, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR J. CATARAULIFE PRESERVER Aug. 8, 1933.

Filed Dec. 12, 1931 5 SheetsSheet 3 INVENTOR Patented Aug. 8, 1933UNITED STATES,

a 9 Claims.

The mainobject of this invention is to provide a life preserver whichcan bev instantaneously adjusted on the body of a person and at the sametime securely fastenedbya single quick action delivered by one hand. I p

A further object of the invention is to provide the life preserver withsuch fastening means as will permit'said life preserver to be operatedwith either'side next to the body and regardless of thesize and shape ofthe. said body.

Furthermore, one of the several objects of the invention is to designthe body member of the ;life preserver and to dispose the fasteningappurtenances so. that said life preserver may be worn in its requisiteposition and concealed indefinitely underneath any wearing. apparelwithout creating an incongruityin the correct appearance of the wearer'stoilet. a

A life preserver constructed in accordance with this invention issubstantially illustrated in the drawingscomprising three sheetsaccompanying this application.

.The Figure l-of the drawings thereof is aplane elevation of said lifepreserver unfolded.

.Figure 2 illustrates said life preserver adjusted.in.requisite.position on the body of a person.

Figure 3 is anenlarged plane view of the fastening means supplied bypreference, in this invention.

uFigure 4 exposes a cross-section of broken line 11--11' of Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is a lane elevation of said we pre- .unfolded and showing amodification in a "Figure 6 illustrates the life preserver adjusted I onthe body'of a person after the alteration has been made in itsfasteningmeans.-

Figure ..'7 illustrates an additional fastening combination supplied forsaid life preserver in view of the alteration in its fastening means asshowninFlgures 5 and 6.

: Figure 8 exposes a cross-section of broken line 12-12 of'Figure 7. m Vp Figure 9is a plane elevation of said life preserver unfolded andshowing its original combiination with two straps in co-actiqn with thead- :uditional fastening means. illustrated intthe Figures 7 and 8,said-additional fasteningsm'eans simplified in view of cheapnessqfqitsmanufac- Figure 10 illustrates" said simplified additionalfastening combination on an enlarged-scale.

Similar I numerals refer f tosimilar parts thedrawings; 1 .Thebodymember of thelife preserver consists i PATENT Q bB of an envelope enduedwith the capital property of buoyancy and adapted to envelop the body ofI a person on and above the waist line and to terminate over the chestwith two erect extensions spaced to avoid the interference of i saidenvelope with the correct appearance of the wearers toi let. Theseextensions are intendedto augment the buoyancy in front and thereby tobring and hold the wearer-when in water-in a safe position, erect andslightly inclined backward.

In order to permit the Wearingof life preserver concealed underneathanywearing apparel without creating an incongruity in the toilet of thewearer; the buoyancy is'obtainablethrough infiation and the envelope isperfectly collapsible when deflated. Alongitudinal partition, or parti-'tions, divide the inflatable envelope intotwo independently inflatablechambers,-,subjacent 14 and superjacent 15. The specified division isintended to lessen the danger occurring from the vulnerability ofanyfsuch envelope andfrom possible imperfection in the means forinflation espe- ,cially when self-inflating device is used. 1Saidchambers areeach of such expansion and dispositionaround the body thatthe proper inflation of either chamberwill insure sufiicientbuoyancyprovided and integrated each by one end tothe r and equilibriumnecessary for the successful per-' two erect extensions respectively andpurposed to be worn about the neckin a yoke-like manner;

ascending, each over a shoulder;pa ssing behind the neck through theframe v1'7, and returning, veach doubled upon itself, toward. theirpoints of departure respectively to be fastened to the -,envelope infront. ,The connection of the. frame v1'7 with the envelope is optionaland as illustrat-' Jed in the Figure 9 of the-drawingsisaid frame 17-may consist of two frames 17a and 170,- one for every strap 16, saidframes 17a and 17c being securely connected together by theintermediate, portion 17b. The connection of the members 17a,-17b, and-17c with the envelope remainsalso optional. i .1 Frames 18 .18 areadapted each to r'etainsli'dably one ofthe loose secured to theenvelopeand ends. of the-straps 16' 16. One way :engaging pawls 1 9 19are arranged in the frames 518G18 so as to permit said straps to slidefreely through the said frames forward only. A. tongue20 projects fromeach pawl 19 and facilitates the lifting x and thereby enable theremoval of the life preserver.

To facilitate a better gripping of said pawls 19 19 on the straps 16 16a plurality of bulges, or

the like, 21 21 21 is formed in series on a con-- venient portion ofsaid straps.

The tips of the loose ends of the straps 16 16 are provided each with astopper 22 and retained each by a ring, or the like, 23, the ringsthereof being secured to the envelope on a convenient location in orderto prevent the elusionrof said ends out of hands reach, and also tofacilitate their handling when the life preserver happens to be wornwith the straps next to the body.

This combination with the stoppers 22 22 and the rings 23 23 is claimedin the application for a life preserver, said application filed April 3,1930, Serial No. i=41,245,"and allowed June 15, 1931. j

Such an arrangement in the fastening means insures v for the lifepreserver the possibility of being instantaneously adjusted and at thesame time fastened in its requisite position on the body; but theoperation requires simultaneous 'co-action of bothhands or repeatedaction of one hand. To accomplish said operation by a single quickactiondelivered byone hand the following modification in the arrangement ofthe fastening means is envisaged. One of the straps 16 16' and itsrespective frame 18 are discarded as shownin the Figures 5 and 6 of thedrawings. The remaining strap 16 is elongated to extend behind the neckand over the other shoulder and to be retained slidably by the frame 24,said frame 24 secured to the envelope at the place where thediscardedframe 18 stood. A quick downward pull delivered by one hand on the looseend of the single strap 16 will give 'the result obtainable in theoriginal combination through the useof both hands or the repeated actionof one hand.

In the modified arrangement of the fastening =m'eansthe frame 17 may bediscarded or used connected with the medial portion of the envelope asshown in the Figure 5 of the drawings. In the original combination withtwo straps the loose ends of thesaid straps for better security may befastened together in front. In view of the fact thatthis advantage islacking in the combination with one strap, additional fastening meansare supplied. Said means comprises 'a tape, or like appendage, 25secured to the envelope on a convenient location, a plurality of bulges,or the like, 26 26 26 formed in series on the' said tape 25 preferably,by knotting the same in a convenientmanner'as shown in Fig. '7, and agapped' frame 27 secured to the envelope ona convenient location andadapted to receive (catch) said tape 25 in'a latch-like manner andretain it by one of the bulges 26. Said frame 27 rests rigidly on thesurface of the envelope'to which it is secured preferably by embeddingthe -base-portion 28 into the envelope The medial portion 29 of saidframe is pressed close to the surface of the envelope in order toprevent the escape of the tape 25 from within the gap 1 30. Theprominence 31 ends with a gradual rising from the level surface of theenvelope in order to lead the way into the gap and ease preventindubitably the escape of the tape 25 out of the said gap 30. Saidprojection 33 may be an appurtenance of the frame 27 or of the envelope.

Frame 27 furnished in plurality on the parts to be connected togetherwill enable tape 25 to lace rapidly said parts together, tape 25 beingelongated for the occasion.

As the life preserver is wearable either side out, frame 2'7 isfurnished on .both faces of the envelope.

This additional fastening combination with the 'l tape 25, bulges 26,and frame 27, is capable to perform independently in any life preserverof the category. If appropriated for co-action in the life preserverwith combination of two straps, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of thedrawings, the rings 23 23 may be discarded and the stoppers 22 22shifted close to the frames 18 18 as shown in the Figure 10.

The bulges 21 formed in series on the straps" 16 and the bulges 26formed in series on the tape 25 are supplied'in convenient pluralitytocope with the variation in'the size and shape of th wearers bodies. 1

What I claim as my inventionis: v

1. A life preserver, consisting in an envelope endued with the propertyof buoyancy and adapted to envelop the body of a person on andabove thewaist line, a combination of said envelope and two identical strapsintegrated eachby one end to the said envelope in front and purposed tobe worn about the neck in a yoke-like manner; ascending, each over ashoulder, to pass freely behindthe neck through a coupling frame, andreturning, each doubled upon itself, toward their points of departurerespectively to bevfastened to said envelope in front; said couplingframe retaining slidably both saidstraps. I

2. A life preserver, consisting in an envelope endued with the propertyof buoyancy and adapted to envelop the body of alperson on and above thewaist line, a combination of said envelope and two identical strapsintegrated each by one end to the said envelope in front and purposed tobe worn about the neck in a yoke-like manner; ascending, each over ashoulder, to pass freely behind the neck through a coupling. frame,and'returning, each doubled upon itself,'toward their points ofdeparture respectively to be fastened to said envelope in front; saidcoupling frame retaining slidably both said strapsand-being connected tothe medial portion of said envelope.

3. A life preserver, consisting in an envelope 5130 one end to the saidenvelope in front and pinposed to be worn about the neck ina yoke-likemanner; ascending, each over a shoulder, to pass freely behind the neckeach through a frame, and returning, each doubled upon itself, towardtheir,

points of departure respectively to be fastened to said envelope infront; the frames thereof each retaining slidably one of said straps andbeing securely connected together. y 1

z 4. A life preserver, consisting in an envelope endued with theproperty of buoyancy and adapted to envelop the body of'a'person on andabove the waist line, a combination of'said envelope and two identicalstraps secured each by one end to said envelope in front andpurposed to-beworn about the neck in a yoke-like manner} ascending, each over ashoulder, to pass freely behind the neck each through a frame, andreturning, each doubled upon itself, toward their points of departurerespectively to be fastened to said envelope in front; the framesthereof each retaining slidably one of said straps and being connectedtogether and with the medial portion of said envelope.

5. A life preserver, consisting in an envelope endued with the propertyof buoyancy and adapted to envelop the body of a person on and above thewaist line, a combination of said envelope and a strap secured by oneend to said envelope in front and purposed to be worn about the neck ina yoke-like manner; ascending over a shoulder, passing behind the neck,extending over the other shoulder through a frame, and returning,doubled upon itself, toward its point of departure to be fastened tosaid envelope in front; the frame thereof retaining slidably the medialportion of said strap and being secured to said envelope in front.

6. A life preserver, consisting in an envelope endued with the propertyof buoyancy and adapted to envelop the body of a person on and above thewaist line, a combination of said envelope and a strap secured by oneend to said envelope in front and purposed to be worn about the neck ina yoke-like manner; ascending over a shoulder to pass freely behind theneck through a frame, extending over the other shoulder to pass freelythrough another frame, and returning, doubled upon itself, through theframe behind the neck toward its point of departure to be fastened tosaid envelope in front; the frame behind the neck retaining slidably therear and forward portions 'of said strap and being connected with medialportion of said envelope; the other frame retaining slidably the medialportion of said strap and being securely connected to the said envelopein front.

7. A life preserver, consisting in an envelope endued with the propertyof buoyancy and adapted to encircle the body of a person on and abovethe waist line, a combination of said envelope and a strap secured byone end to the said envelope in front, said strapascending over ashoulder, passing freely through aframe connected with the rear part ofsaid envelope, said strap then returning doubled upon itself toward itspoint of departure to pass its active endthrough another frame; saidactive end having a plurality of bulges set in series; said anotherframe being secured to the front of the envelope and having I a pawldescending obliquely so as to oppose the backward sliding of said strap;thepawlthereof having an outwardly projecting tongue and an acute edgereaching the base of said bulges close at the surface of; the strap.,

8. A life preserver, consisting in an envelope endued with the propertyof buoyancy and adapted to encircle the body of a person on and abovethe waist line and connected over the shoulders, a combination of saidenvelope and a tape, or like appendage, and a hook-like gapped frame;said tape being secured by one end to a convenient part of said envelopeand having a plurality of bulges set in series, said hook-like framebeing secured to another portion of said envelope and having its middleportion close to the sur- 7 face of the envelope and its point risinggrad- 0 ually from the level surface of the envelope so as i v toreceive (catch) said tape in a -latch-like 1 manner. n

9. A life preserver, consisting in an envelope endued with the propertyof buoyancy and adapted to encircle the body of a person on and abovethe waist line and connected over the shoulders, a combination of saidenvelope, and a tape, or like appendage, anda hook-like gapped frame;said tape being secured by on'e'end to a convenient part of saidenvelope and having a plu rality of bulges set in series, said hook-likeframe being secured to another portion of the envelope and having itspoint 31 rising from the level surface of the envelope so as toreceive(catch) said 115 tape in a latch-1ike manner, and a barb-like projectionintervening in the gap of the said hooklike frame, to prevent the escapeof said appendage.

JULES CATARAU.

